Adjustable handle-bar for bicycles



No. 6|9,452. Patented Feb. I4, |899. A. S. VDSE.

ADJUSTABLE HANDLE BAR FOB BIGYCLES.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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YH: Nonms PETERS co. PHmuLl'mo.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMBROSE S. VOSE, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJUSTABLE HANDLE-BAR FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,452, dated February 14, 1899.

Application filed November 22, 1897. Serial No. 659,373. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, AMBROSE S. VOSE, residing in Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Adjustable Handle-Bars for Bicycles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention relates to bicycles and like vehicles provided with a handle-bar, and has for its obj ect to provide a simple and efficient device or attachment by which the handles of said bar may be raised and lowered in a substantially short time while the machine is in motion, so as to adjust the said handles to any height desired by the rider, and whereby the said handle-bar is automatically locked in its adjusted position by the same mechanism. These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure lis a vertical section and elevation of a suliicient portion of a bicycle handle-bar embodying this invention to enable it to be understood, the section being taken on the line l l, Fig. 2; and Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2, Fig. l, looking toward the left.

In accordance with .this invention the handle-bar d, which may be of any suitable or usual construction and provided at its ends with suitable handles, (not shown,) has fast on it a worm-gear a', preferably cut on a sleeve a2, which is brazed or otherwise rendered fast on the said handle-bar.

The handle bar and its attached wormsleeve a2 are adapted to turn in a cylinder b, formed in an enlargement or head b', attached to or forming part of the steering-post b2 or other support for the handle-bar. The head b is provided on one side with a cylindrical opening b3, into which is extended a hollow plug or sleeve b4, provided with a worm b5 to engage the worm-gear a'. The front portion of the hollow plug or sleeve b4, on which the worm b5 is cut, is preferably made tapering, as shown in Fig. l, while its rear portion is made cylindrical to fit closely into the opening b3. The worm-sleeve b4 is adapted to turn freely on a rod b1", provided with a head Z912 and at its front end with a screw-threaded portion Z213, of reduced diameter, to form a shoulder Z915, against which a nut b1 is designed to abut and to engage the front end of the worm-sleeve, the said nut and head 1912 on the rod serving to prevent longitudinal movement of the worm-sleeve b4 on the rod b1". The threaded end Z913 of the rod blo engages a screw-threaded opening b2 in the opposite side of the head b and is locked by a screw b21, engaging a threaded socket in the end of said rod. The worm-sleeve b4 is preferably provided with a thumb-n ut or wheel 53, by which the worm may be easily turned to rotate the worm-gear, and thereby raise and lower the handles of the handle-bar into the desired position.

By making the Worm b5 tapering, as described, wear may be taken up, so that said worm and worm-gear may be kept in close engagement, thereby maintaining the wormgear sensitive to the rotation of the thumbnut.

By means of the worm and worm-gear the handle bar may be turned anyl desired amount, so that nice adjustment of the handles of said bar may be effected, and the said handle is locked in its adjusted position by the engagement of the worm and worm-gear. The cylinder b may, and preferably will, be closed at its ends by caps c, which may be screwed upon the ends of said cylinder, as shown in Fig. 2.

In practice the adjusting-nut Z230 is located on the side of the steering-post which faces the rider, so that the latter may adjust the handle-bar without dismounting from the machine and while the latter is in motion.

1. In a cycle, the combination of the following instruinentalities, viz: they steeringpost provided with a head having an opening, a handle-'bar extended through said opening and provided with a worm-gear supported to rotate in said opening, a worm-sleeve provided with a thumb-nut or wheel and extended into said head to engage said Worm-gear, a

rod on which said worm-sleeve is loosely mounted, means to secure saidworm-sleeve on said rod against longitudinal movement, and means to secure said rod in said head, substantially as described.

2. In a cycle, the combination of the fol- IOO lowing instrumentalities, viz: the steeringpost provided with a head having a cylinder b, the handle-bar a provided with the wormgear a within said cylinder, the rod blo extended into an opening in said head substantially at right angles to the cylinder b and provided with a head 1112 and at its front end with a screw-threaded portion 1113 of reduced diameter, a tapering Worm-sleeve b4 loosely mounted on the rod blo and engaging the worin-gear a', a nut b1 to secure said wormsleeve on the rod 1910 against longitudinal movement, and means to secure the rod Z110 to said head, the Worm-sleeve being. provided with means whereby it can be turned to adjust the hand1e-bars While the machine is in motion and without dismounting therefrom, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin g Witnesses;

AMBROSE S. VOSE.

Witnesses:

J As. I-I. CHURCHILL, J. MURPHY. 

